Rocky Dawuni

Rocky Dawuni was born in 1969 and originally comes from the northern Yendi Dagbon

traditional area of Ghana but he was raised at Michel Camp Army Barracks near Accra, where his father was a sergeant.

He was influenced by the Hot Barrels army band. He attended the University of Ghana, where he studied psychology and philosophy. While still a student, he formed his fIrst reggae group, Local Crisis, in 1991.

ROcky later left for the USA and in 1996 he released his first album, ‘Movement’ followed by ‘Crusade’, which was recorded in Ghana as a tribute to the country’s 40th anniversary. It was released on Aquarian Records, a company run by his wife, Carey Sullivan, and by Rocky’s older brother, Bob Dawuni. Crusade was first performed at a special concert in Abidjan that also featured Steel Pulse, Rita Marley and Sister Carol. In 2000 Rocky made his first US tour, appearing at festivals, such as the Jazz and Reggae Festival and the 6th Annual Sierra Nevada World Music Festival.

In 2001 Rocky released his third album, ‘Awakening’, at the Rocky Dawuni Reggae Sunsplash on Ghana’s Independence Day (March 6th ) to a crowd of 20,000 in Accra. Rocky Dawuni works with’ AfricaLive,’ an NGO that promotes live music in Ghana and supports music education in Ghanaian schools.